'I'll do everything' - Anton Stach breaks Leeds United injury silence with 43-word message
The Leeds United midfielder's World Cup hopes are in doubt following an injury during Sunday's win over Brighton.
Leeds United midfielder Anton Stach has vowed to ‘do everything’ he can to ensure a swift comeback from injury.
Stach was forced off in the 74th minute of Leeds’ 1-0 win at home to Brighton on Sunday, having fallen awkwardly from an aerial challenge with midfielder Carlos Baleba. The German was writhing in pain while receiving on-pitch treatment but attempted to play on after sharing a word with manager Daniel Farke.
The Leeds man even managed to take a corner but dropped to the ground shortly after. He received more on-pitch treatment before being stretchered off, shirt over head and with blood seeping through his sock at ankle level, to be replaced by striker Joel Piroe.
Leeds went on to win the game with an added-time Dominic Calvert-Lewin effort but concerns remain over Stach, who harbours hope of a place in the Germany squad for this summer’s World Cup. And now the 27-year-old has provided an update.
In a typically unique post on Instagram, including an edited image of himself with hands for feet and boots on his hands, Stach wrote: “Could you smell the win at our last home game of the season? Thank you for the amazing support throughout the whole season.
“Unlucky to have been subbed off, but I’ll do everything to come back as quickly as possible. See you soon.”
Stach is a major doubt for Sunday’s Premier League final-day trip to West Ham and is unlikely to be risked, given Leeds are safe. The major concern for him is what happens next, with World Cup squads already starting to be announced ahead of next month’s tournament across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
"The opponent fell on his knee or ankle," Farke said of Stach after full-time on Sunday. "He tried to keep going on. I hope it's not too bad but it was too painful [to continue].
“The World Cup is around the corner and fingers crossed it's not too bad. It would be just guessing for me. Ankle injury, we have to wait on what the medical team says."